As we all know Google has changed their App install policies and write permissions for external SD card in Android 4.4 Kitkat and Android Lollipop 5.1 / 5.0. So here the simple and easy trick which will let users to Unlock external microSD card for writing all the all from Google Play Store. This process requires the Phone to be rooted in order to unlock the memory Card write permission for all the Application.
First of all make sure your android smartphone is rooted, the trick / solution will not work without rooting your phone. You should be Super user in order to make changes to system files in Linux operating system. Other thing you need is Root Manager Application, you can install it from Play store or any third party source. If possible you should backup your full ROM in-case any problem occurred, although it will work create any problem.
Unlock SD-card write / access permission for all Apps in Android
To gain external SDcard acees and write permission in Android Kitkat and Lollipop, do the following:
- Launch your favorite file manager, like Root Explorer
- Navigate to /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml (Do remember to backup “platform.xml” in safer place)
- Open Platform.xml by long pressing on it and then selecting EDIT
- Find android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and android.permission.WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE lines
- Add the below Highlighted code line or Simply make WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE blocks look exactly the same and then save the file.
<permission name=”android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE” >
<group gid=”sdcard_r” />
<group gid=”sdcard_rw” />
<group gid=”media_rw” />
</permission>
<permission name=”android.permission.WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE” >
<group gid=”sdcard_rw” />
<group gid=”media_rw” />
</permission>
The solution will work on Allview, Amoi, Archos, AT&T, BenQ, Bird, BLU, Casio, Celkon, Dell, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Siemens, Gigabyte, Haier, HTC, i-mate, Icemobile, iNQ, HP, Huawei, i-mobile, Innostream, Jolla, Kyocera, Lenovo, Maxon, Myphone, BQ, Star mobile, Cherry Mobile, TCL, THL, Meizu, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC, NIU, Mitac, Modu, MWg, Neonode, Nokia, O2, Oppo, Palm, Pantech, Philips, Amazon, Apple, Asus, Benefon, BenQ-Siemens, BlackBerry, Bosch, Cat, OBI, LETV, Elephone, Nvidia, OnePlus, Orange, Panasonic, Parla, Plum, Prestigio, Sagem, Sendo, Posh, Qtek, Samsung, Sewon, Siemens, Sony, Spice, Tel.Me., Thuraya, Unnecto, verykool, VK, Mobile, Wiko, XCute, XOLO, Yota, ZTE, Alcatel , Sharp, Sonim, Sony Ericsson, Karbonn, Lava, LG, Maxwest, Micromax, Pepsi, iBerry Auxus, Acer, Alcatel, MChea, Emporia, Eten, Garmin-Asus, Gionee, T-Mobile, Telit, Toshiba, Vertu, vivo, Vodafone, WND, Xiaomi, Yezz, YU yureka ,Chinese phones Nokia, and other rooted android mobile phone.
Now reboot the phone and now you can install apps to external micro SD card without any error or problem. In the above code gained read and Write (rw) permission for installing media Applications on the SD card. If you are unable to Edit, long press on the file, touch on “Properties” then touch on “Permissions Change” and Check the “Other” in Read only.
Hello, i feel helpful after reading this article but, i use this in my zenfone 2 ZE551ML which is in this part <---- this is not available on my zen2 is that still work? Really wait for your reply.
HI ! I 've tried editing platform.xml for my sm-g900t Samsung S5. I did not work for me . I 've also tried adb shell pm set-install-location 2. Whatever is possible ,I 've tried them all .Still no luck . I need to ask you what exactly what does it mean by "Write External Storage' ? Does it mean when you download an app & it go straight to the SD card ? If I can move an user app manually to the SD card,then I don't have the "Write Extenal Storage' ? I forgot to mention I am on Lollipop version .Thanks !
Hi, It means you can manually move the apps to SDcard and you can also set External storage as your default storage for installing apps.
hi im unable to make changes i entered as it is and saved it after that i rebooted it later i checked the platform.xml file it is same as it is and no changes occured solve me my mobile is sony xperia t2 ultra dual and rooted my email is nithin.star3@gmail.com piz mail me
Make sure you are using a right Editor to Edit the file. Tip: Use Root Explorer.
Thanks! It worked perfectly on my Redmi 2 Prime.
Worked for me, thanks! (Lenovo A536)
TQ it really work...
It's saying unable to save. Help
Which phone are you using.
It works for me. I did it on xiaomi redmi 3 pro. Thank you so much.
It is not working on my Tecno H8 Droidpad, Lollipop 5.0. Any further help, please?
Thanks
Android 4.12 nonrooted phone..............I got bad malware from googleplay approved keyboard last year , I reset my phone...and have had nothing but issues. Have run 15 quality antimalware programs. Nothing found. ~*~*~*~*~ I constantly get sd detected at startup, so when I switch to the other card as default storage, all systems and applications files propagate on BOTH cards, filling both cards up. Also in android/data/com......gms, it says drive_content_do_not_modify. When I have switched as default storage card, I cannot install anything and always get sd damaged at boot.......... So I switch back again, I get the sd detected message every boot and can install almost any program. I finally looked at my permissions, and they are missing the user group on the bad card. How can I reset them or fix them please? please? I have two choices.....sd damaged at boot or sd detected at boot. PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSE help me with this vicious cycle.
First of all format your SD card to FAT32. Backup data before doing it. Then try again.
I have used the format in phone. I have used four highly rated android format or erase sdcard apks. Please tell me how to do this and with what application. Thank you ever so much for your reply and help!!!
You have to root your phone first, (google it). Then follow the steps in the article. Or you can also do it using the APP "NextAPP SD FIX" but it also require the phone to be rooted.
Well I hope you can think of anyyyyyyy other way. Your suggestion also would require me TO Also UPGRADE. From google play...next app SD fix. *4.3* I mentioned I am *4.1.2* Installs 1,000,000 - 5,000,000 Current Version 0.7 Requires Android 4.3 and up
It is better to make at first a Full Rom Backup and Kopie of the File. But no Problem with the changes. It works perfekt. Very good ! Many Thanks.
Translated with Google Translater! I am 63 years old, german, no specialist and my english is not good. 1. Use the "Root Explorer" from the Playstore. (As the author replied) 2. Copy the original file somewhere. (If this is possible, you should also be able to save the change) 2. Read the article several times completely. 3. Be sure you have the correct path and file. 4. Wait a bit after saving the new file, there might be a confirmation request. Good luck. Harald